Improvement in g-rain-sep



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Grain Separator. N0. 85,l4L Pa .tented Dec. 22,1868."

IVi'Zna-isesw l I N. PETERS, FHQTO LITHOGRAPHEIL WAISHINGTON D O w I 4Sheets-Sheet 2. A. B. SMITH.

Graih Separator. Ne. 85.141. 7 Patented Dec. 2 2, 1868.

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Pafented Dec. 22, 1868.

N.'PETERS, PHOTO LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C 4 SheetsSheet 4.

-A.' B. SMITH, Grain Separator; No. 85,141. Patented Dec. 22',- 1868.

fitting gem,

Letters Patent No. 85,141., dated December 215, 1868idufcdutcrl'.Dccc-inbcrfi,1368.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-SEPARATOR.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and, making part of thesame.

Figures 5 and 6, detached views, full size, of one oi" theknockersdetached, showing my improved construction thereof, and mode ofattachment and'adjustmeut on its shaft.

Like letters designate correspomling parts innll of the figures.

Let A represent the flame of a thresher and grainseparat-or providedwith my improvements.

The main feature of my invention consists in the eiuployn'ient of aseries of knockers, B'B and C O,

reciprocating a haifcircie between thcslats'of aster-- tionary inclinedapron, D, for the purpose of conveying away the straw, and thoroughlyshaking it in the act, for separating the grain therefrom.

The apron D is made of a set of inclined parallel slats,cxtendi ngupward andbackward from the threshing-cvlinder, with spaces between themwide enough to allow the grain to fall through, and to admit the passageof the knockers upwanil therein. The slats are thicker at the top than.at the bottom, as shown in fig. 3, so that no grain-heads, chafi, orother ohstruction may lodge between them. Also, there inclinedguard-strips of metal, (I (I, inserted across the spaces between theslats,- substantially as represented, wherever they can be insertedwithout closing the way for the passage of the knockers, so as toprevent straws and heads iroiu working down between the slats andfalling on the riddles, or sieves, below. These strips of metal aresecured in saw-kerfs made in the edges of the slats, and are atsuch adistance apart as to allow the grain to freely pass down between them,and no more.

Fig. i represents a modified construction of the apron, consisting of ametallic plate, with slots 1: '1. therein, alternating in position, fortlmrcception of the kno(-l-:ers,'aml crescentor equivalent-shapedapertures u. u' for the passage of the grain down through the plate. 7 I

The knockers are divided into two sets, B B and G (3..

' Each set, on separate shafts b l) and 0 c, alternate. in position andin action, thatis, one set, B B, going up as the other set, U 0,.goesdown. Theyreciprocate on their shafts aha-1i circle, or thereabouts; atthe upward termination of the strokes, being in the position shown bythe knockl-ars B B, fig. 2. The upward reciprocating movement moves thestraw ,upward and backward on the apron, and at the same time lifts it,

so as to thoroughly shake it. The downward movement eases the knockersaway from the straw,-without auytendency to' draw it down through theapron.

The shafts of the knockers are located beneath the apron, and thisposition and reciprocating movement of the knockers are'thc; only onesthat will eifect-ually some the purpose intended.

"A continuous revolving increment of tlie.straw-dri\-'- ers, asheretofore in use, cannot operate successfully, their great defect beingtheir necessary tendency to carry the-grain down through the apron.

In figs. l and 2,the knockers are represented as made of wire; but Iprefer to make them and attach them totheir as represented in figs. and6. Here they are formed of wood, in quadrantal form, or nearly so. Theyare clamped between metallic jaws M N and held by a bolt, 7;. One of thejaws, as M, has a fianeh, P, of cyliihlro-concave form, so as to fit thesurface of the shaftv b, to which it is fastened by a bolt and nut, '21.The holt passes through an oblong hole or slot, t, in the flanch, sothat the knocker can be adjusted lengthwise of the shaft, and beaccurately located between the slats of the apron.

he alternate reciprocating l'llOYeIllBlltS of the two sets of knockers,B B and (l G, are produced in an accurate and simple manner hymeans ofpinions f f and y g, secured respectively orb theirshafts I) b and c c,and-gearing-respectively into rackshhimrdi M,

which alternate in position onopposite sides of a slot-. tedreciprocating rack-bar, G, substantially as represented in fig. 1. It isevident that in whichever direc-. .t-ion the rack-barmoves, the racks hIt will drive the.

shafts b b in the direction opposite to the motion produced on theshafts c c, driven by the opposite racks The rack-bar is reciprocatcdby-a crank-wheel, I, and

connecting-rod H, pivoted, at'm and a respectively to the crank-wheeland rack-bar.

Any equivalent means of producing the movement may be adopted.

The rack-bar is retained and directed in guides f g. Another ieatin'e ofmy improvement consists in the employment of a continuously-movingendless apron,

L, instead of a chute-board beneath the separatorapron D,'for the grainto drop on. This insures the regular conveyance of the grain to thesieves, and it never becomes obstructed. It passes around rollers-r s,one of which is driven by a band,,l, connecting it with a driving-pulleyin any convenient position.

What I claim as' ny invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The reciprocating knockers B and G 0, arranged.

and operating in combination with the stationary slatted or slottedapron D, substantially as and forthe purpose herein specified.

Also, constructing the knockers of Wooden quad. rants, held betweenmetallic jaws M N by bolts, sub-j stantially as specified.

Also, attaching the knockers by the flanclhplate P, with its slot t andbolt a, so as to be adjustable on their shaft, substantially asseti'orth.

Also, the'inclined guard-strips d d between the slats -of the apron D,in combination with the knockers B B, C (l, for the purpose specified.

The above specification of my improved grain-separator signed by me,this 10th day oft-Tannery, 1866.

' A. B. SMITH.

Witnesses:

. J, 8. BROWN.

vA. S. VAN VRANKEN.

